quote:Images of astronauts in action, beamed home via NASA cameras, have long been a staple of American television. But more candid, casual scenes are rare, and these are the focus of a program spotlighting the close-knit crew of the space shuttle Columbia.

Airing a week before shuttle flights are scheduled to resume with a planned May 22 launch, "Astronaut Diaries: Remembering the Columbia Shuttle Crew" features footage shot by astronaut Dave Brown, an Arlington native who was aboard Columbia's fatal 2003 mission.

Brown, a 1974 graduate of Yorktown High School in Arlington, had planned to make a film about his lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut, and recorded fellow crew members during their training.

Besides time spent in the simulator, Brown also photographed bike rides, high-fives and the excitement of launch-day preparations. "He wanted to be able to distribute something via the astronauts," said Brown's brother, Doug. "When they'd go out to speak, this would be a way for them to have a tape about the training."

In "Astronaut Diaries," Brown's footage -- shot on digital videocassettes -- is coupled with interviews with astronauts' family members, who reflect on the astronauts' observations throughout their two-year wait for the flight.

Brown's brother hopes the program will show what the Columbia astronauts were like as people. The show, he said, "isn't an essay on 'Why did the shuttle crash?' or 'What is intelligent risk?' This is about leaving a legacy."

ASCAN1984

Hello Everyone

I desperately want to see this. Could anyone please get me a copy?

Gareth

[This message has been edited by ASCAN1984 (edited May 10, 2005).]

KSCartist

Gareth-

If all goes well, I'll make a VHS videotape of it-I promise you a copy. (It won't take as long as "The Cape") I'll use it to show my students that astronauts ar regular folks -just passionate about accomplishing their goals.

Tim

(PS I'm not making 50 copies for everyone so get a viewing cS buddy and let's remember what great people they were)

tegwilym

Is this a new show or the same one that was on about 6 months ago or so? I forget what it was called "16 days..." something.

I'll tape it just in case!

Tom

tegwilym

quote:Originally posted by tegwilym:Is this a new show or the same one that was on about 6 months ago or so?Tom

Never mind. I searched the web and see that it IS a new one. I should look before asking....

Tom

Astro Bill

In an interview on the "Today" show today in New York, Doug Brown, brother of STS-107 astronaut Dave Brown commented on the "Astronaut Diaries" program that will appear on the Science Channel on May 14th at 9 PM. He also showed a few clips of the movies that his brother made. This will be an exceptional program and one that you will want to keep to remember the crew.

ASCAN1984

KSCartisT thankyou so much. Please let me know what i can do to repay you.Gareth

Server7

I'll make copies too. The word is spreading fast that this is a good one.

I watched it last night..It was very well done. It showed the true nature of the companionship that the crew shared. They were one big family...

Rick

Hello, all:

If you haven't seen the Astronaut Diaries episode on The Science Channel featuring David Brown's films taken during training for Columbia's final flight, you're truly missing something special. Beg, borrow or ... hey, even steal (OK, going a little far on THAT count) ... a copy if you have to.

It is tremendous, one of the top two or three space documentaries I've ever seen, and certainly the most intimate. Viewers are taken inside the transfer van all the way to the way to the launch pad, and then into the elevator for the ride up to the 195-foot level, where the astronauts enter the Shuttle. The up-close views of the Shuttle are beautiful ... you've NEVER seen shots like this before. Never.

The interviews with family members are beyond touching. When Brown's mother speaks of her son telling her that launch and re-entry are the scariest times, you can't help but get a lump in your throat. When the actual in-flight video conversation between Willie McCool and his wife is shown, it's heart-breaking.

The now-familiar scenes of the astronauts on the flight deck during re-entry are included, but somehow, they just seem more fitting here.

The only complaint ... the total runtime is only about 42 minutes or so because of the commercials. Please, oh, please let there be a very, very extended DVD release somewhere on the horizon.

Server7

Much of Houston missed it (those with Time Warner Cable)

MrSpace86

Yes, it was an amazing and extremely well done documentary. I think it was what Dave Brown wanted all along. It was truly a great show to watch, I hope all of you can catch a rerun or a tape. Sorry I didn't tape it...I didn't have time to run out and get a tape!-Rodrigo

HouseDadX4

I taped...I can make copies for those that wouldn't mind sending me a tape and return postage..Email off boards if you would like me to make a copy..

Brian

RMH

I can't imagine trying to edit thru all of David Browns films that he must have shot during this period to come up with this special. But they did a terrific job. I also like the part of the crew in the van going towards the launch pad, the shots of the shuttle at very close range while on the pad, and the part of KC looking down before going on the shuttle. It was also great that Discovery channel also ran the other STS-107 special directly after - it made it feel like a complete mission from crew trainning thru the reentry.

Mike Isbell

Comcast Cable in Montgomery Co. Maryland only has the Science channel available to those subscribers with digital format. Our cable is still of the analog format, therefore I do not receive the Science channel. If anyone out there has or can make a VHS copy of the Columbia Tribute I would be greatly indebted and very gratefull.